Several weeks ago as I was waiting to go into one of my ballet classes, I heard the familiar strains of American in Paris by George Gershwin, being played by the accompanist for one of the many ballet classes in the building. (Needless to say, I tip-toed down the hall to observe the advanced ballet class dance to this music…)

Talk about inspiring –

I still remember that moment when I first saw the American in Paris ballet, part of the movie “American in Paris” with the incomparable Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron. And, who can stop from at least tapping their toes when Gene Kelly’s are tapping to the familiar strains of George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” (another popular segment from this move) – And then there are those that are inspired to just get up and dance along with him — I’m one of THOSE people.

So, this lead me to putting my thoughts together as to why it is such a thrill for me or anyone to dance – what is it about dance and ballet (in particular for me), that is so inspiring. What is the thrill? Why do I have that desire to perform? What is it about certain pieces of music that inspire me to suddenly get up and dance along?

For one, I’ve never been plagued with stage fright – in fact, the energy of the audience moves me to do my best and invite them into the world I’m creating with my movements. Somehow I’m more at home on stage than everyday life and I have an easier time expressing myself through performance than any other communication. It’s creating art in the moment and inviting the audience to help create it.

The discipline of ballet (because it takes years to develop the skill to dance ballet), combined with the ability of this particular dance form to create a mood, tell a story, and invite people into your interpretation of that – is thrilling. To interpret the music that is being played into movement and emotion.

It’s also the coming together of many forms of art into one, spontaneous moment. Music and sound, color, light, fabrics and costumes and more, all play an integral part in addition to the dance movements themselves. Somewhere I read that great art is great because it has the ability to make one feel and evoke an emotional response. Where else can you find this expressed in all these forms at once, but dance?

And when I’m inspired on stage, how many people in the audience am I inspiring to fulfill their life’s joy and passion – whatever that may be?